Plus, with care and prevention of concussions a need not a want, it’s time for the third man in the ring to wave a contest off when the time is right.
When I was in the WWE, referees from time to time were told to really enforce the rules, especially when it came to count outs. If the ref got to “10”, call for the bell. I think it only happened once or twice but man, there was heat when it did. Not on the ref, but on the wrestlers who ignored the referee who told them to get back in the ring while slowly, demonstratively counting up from one for over 30 seconds to finally end at 10.
(Now, my memory being what it is, I am probably forgetting some time on Raw when a ref tossed out a match and then got reamed and fired but I definitely remember it happening in a dark match or two…)
The lesson learned for the offending wrestlers? Actions have consequences and rules are to be followed. The referee is to be listened to and respected.
Point is, it’s time to at least try to make some real out of the unreal. I’m telling you… one of the hardest things of being an announcer in wrestling for me is watching the guys beat the hell out of one another. Despite the training, dedication and effort put in by today’s athletes, it doesn’t make the fragile parts of the body like the brain any more resistant to the risk of injury.
By having a referee able to jump in and stop a match, it will serve several masters. First, it will start to reeducate the audience, that the moves in pro wrestling have consequences. It will also (hopefully) reeducate the wrestlers that they are in control, not the audience and what they do has consequences.
